Marco

H: We need to postpone the party. Yamato wants me and Minoru with him in China next week.

M: What for?

H: Confrontation with Wo Yao and their whole god damned family.

M: Why now? Is it not avoidable? Violence is always seeding violence and all that...

H: If you want supremacy in China it is unavoidable. Yamato made a decision and it is our duty to stand by his side.

M: Well, if it's not, you know I could help...

H: Oh yes, it's been a minute since I saw you in action. I miss that. It's the most arousing thing in the world. But no. We need to deal with it ourselves. It's good if they don't know yet that you, rather the house of Medici, will ally with us.

M: Nothing arousing about death. What on earth got into Yamato? He seemed happy and peaceful a year ago and now he behaves like Genghis Khan.

H: Not death, power; purposefully or not, you exhale it and I love it. It's always been on our mind and now is the right time. Just that.

M: Please take care. I don't want you to be hurt.

H: I won't. You know I can hold my own. *Wink smiley*

M: I know you don't need protection but I can't help worrying about you.

H: You are so sweet. Your whole being is so full of contractions it's fascinating.

M: Uuh, a compliment? Is it one? I will take it as one. *smirk emoji*

H: I will give you some more when we meet. For a few, I will be kneeling. *two smirk emojis*

Grampa opens the door, interrupting whatever images were just put into my head.

He rolls his eyes slightly.

"How can I help?"

"I just wanted to tell you that I am flying to Brazil this afternoon."

"Why on earth?" My attention slips to him completely. Why now? Why, where she is?

"Some trouble."

"Trouble is everywhere but very few situations require your personal attention and presence. Why now?"

"Something is happening down there and I need to see who true allies are and who needs to be replaced."

With all the incidents I am not very familiar with all his business.

"How much of the South American market is actually your share?"

"Probably forty," he answers casually as if that weren't a huge number.

"Forty?! How on Earth and how come nobody knows."

"Subsidiaries. Friends." He shrugs and gives me a sly smile. "Marco, I am very good at what I do."

"Clearly. Frighteningly good if you own almost half of the market of a continent that you don't even live on."

"Money is only the means but it helps keep your family safe. So I made mountains of it. Yet my children died anyway by their own hand."

And it got to that; I feel empathy for him.

"What's the problem now?"

"I have an old friend. He was arrested."

"If he is a friend of yours they cannot hold him for long. He surely has lawyers and all that."

"He does. But it's not about that. Who did it, wants my attention."

"Lorenzo, if the police arrest a guy who has shady business it's a bit presumptuous to think it's about you."

"Yet it is. Because nobody dared to arrest him in the last twenty years. It was a message: You are targeted. You are not untouchable anymore." He looks into the void. This is what he is doing when he is thinking or remembering. "That only happens when they have the backup of someone strong enough to damper the fear."

"I see. Makes sense. Do you know who?"

"Partially only. One of them is your brother."

"Then let me go. You know I can take care of things... Silently. And I can try to talk sense into Stefano."

"You can but I don't trust you with other things."

"Come on... I did everything you asked of me. I passed all your tests. You have to make an effort and trust if I am to be become your heir in all rights."

He sighs.

"Alright. But you obviously don't go alone and as soon as I hear you are doing something uncovered or too dangerous I will be over. With the cavalry."

He makes me genuinely smile. I never had a cavalry. I nod.

And then I do some research. Research is maybe the most important part.

What the fuck is Stefano doing all of a sudden in Brazil? He was never interested in business there. He had Mexico and it was good enough. But if Stefano is something, that is ambitious and hotheaded.

Here we go. João Costa hast three sons. Paulo and Eduardo, with his wife, and Mauro, who goes by the surname Moreira, with his mistress. Sounds familiar to some extent.

Mauro was apparently very eager to prove himself and founded his own operation. And he did, and was widely successful, known to be swift and ruthless. All that for Daddy's approval. Yet, who am I to judge? I also did what my father told me when I was too young to know better. Later on, he incorporated his business into his father's and now deals with the dark side of the family fortune.

He was never officially recognized so there aren't legal parallels between them. In the eyes of the world they are business partners. How interesting...

I sigh and press call. Stefano answers after the third ring.

"Oh my God! My little brother gave a sign after all. I was waiting for you to ask me out or something and you, besides not trusting me enough to tell me you were alive also ignored me after your resurrection."

"Where are you, Stefano? And what did you take?"

"In Rio. I just had some drinks with Vitor."

"Why are you there? What Vitor?"

"Ah, we met after your time. You see, I want to expand. He is going to be president here. And I am helping out. One hand washes the other and shit like that." That Vitor. Ok yes, and shit is a good word.

"Grampa feels he is being stepped on the toes."

"Does he now? But why? I proposed him business and he was looking at me like at a cockroach."

"Nevermind. I am coming over. I want to meet Vitor."

He laughs a bit. It's not quite genuine but laughter nonetheless.

"So my little brother needs a favor? What do I get in return?" No, I think there are other options too but this is the least bloody one and I want Stefano to be at ease; he would be only an additional nuisance otherwise.

"What do you want?" I sigh.

"I was thinking you could introduce me to your brother-in-law. I have neglected Asia and it was a mistake."

Very interesting favor to ask.

"Sure," I say, and know Yamato will not engage with him. Yamato likes honor and order and Stefano is... Well, not that.

"By the way, brother dearest, I met your little nemesis yesterday. She is very much alive and seeing someone interesting."

"Roxana is my business, not yours."

"How come she is still alive then?" He says with that inflection of his that is slightly mocking. Usually, I can brush it off just fine but now it irritates me. 

"Police ambush. It didn't make sense to risk getting caught for a whim. Why do you care anyway?"

"Well because she hurt our family. I can take care of her tonight if you like."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Clearly because I want to..." I clench the phone so hard the screen might crack any minute. 

"Yeah, as you like. I get that. Kiss, kiss." And he hangs up casually. I wasn't done, but whatever. 

Grampa's plane is flying full speed over the Atlantic. Alex's Swallow would have been faster. Why am I in a hurry? It's like my spider sense is tingling or is it just malfunctioning?

Stefano said he would stay out of it and he doesn't care enough about her not to. And it's not like she is alone. But...

Back to the issue at hand, the actual reason for my visit. I scan over the papers of João's arrest and it hits me. It's in small letters under several names of higher-ups but it's there: Thiago Mendes da Rocha.

Granted, the boy has balls. Boy? I think he might be even a year older than me and I am being petty.

Roxana's boyfriend was courageous enough to arrest one of the most important people in the country. He doesn't seem stupid enough to think it will last so why did he? Hmmm... This will bring some publicity to his father's campaign. Smart. But this will also bring attention to him. And to her.

Out of all people in the damn world, Roxana is dating this guy. And now I will be in the same city for days. It's in the past and we seemingly both moved on but damn is it hard to refrain from asking her what the hell she was thinking. If she really hates me that much...?

Thiago should be smart enough to keep her as far away from dangerous stuff as possible. And why the hell am I thinking this? She is mighty fine. Dating a rich, prominent, handsome guy without any trace of dirt on him who has the means to help her. Legally.

I sigh and call Hitomi again. She doesn't answer. Am I clingy? Am I needy for wanting to talk to her about it? Maybe.

Grampa's staff rented a big condo, severely guarded and close to João's estate.

I take a shower and get dressed. João is still in custody and his two legitimate sons asked me to join them for a business gathering slash party. It's the same one Stefano will be attending and the ominous Vitor.

When I enter the venue, I am flanked by four of Grampa's most trusted men. By now I know their names: Aurelio, Federico, Luca, and Gianni. Two of them were part of the sniper team that was watching Roxana in the warehouse.

That means also that they are aware of the details and that I am not free to do what I please.

But anyway, Thiago would be stupid to attend this gathering and plainly retarded if he brings her here.

Plainly retarded. Seconds after entering the venue hall, my eyes land on Roxana. She is wearing a skin-tight red dress and holds a champagne glass.

I register the high heels, the styled hair, the red lipstick, the nail polish and the... bright smile on her face directed to one of the guests. You are staring, you idiot.

And now she turns and stares back. They both do, she and her companion.

And then, like in a fever dream, he is there; Thiago, and takes her hand and leads her away. But she looks back over his shoulder. Or is that only in my head?

He smiles at her and kisses her, as fi demonstratively, and he looks very much in love. And she, she looks ambiguous or is it only me that doesn't want to see that she is happy too? And the air is so thick in this damn room.

Eduardo Costa introduces himself formally and very respectfully.

I let him speak for long minutes while I can't take my eyes off them.

"Yes, that's the boy..." He noticed where I was looking. "The press says he has balls of steel. I think he is only delusional," says Eduardo. 

"Maybe both. But it doesn't matter. We are going to solve it."

He nods. Then, all of a sudden, a familiar voice emerges from the background.

"Sta benissima oggi, vero? Forse è il rossetto. Puoi immaginare come si spalmerà, o quel vestito attillato, non ti accorgi nemmeno che è incinta./ She looks great today, doesn't she? Maybe it's the lipstick. You can imagine how it will smear. Or that tight dress; you don't even notice she is pregnant."

"Incinta?/ Pregnant?" I repeat without filtering my thoughts. Yet another mistake for today.

"Oh si. Probabilmente voleva garantire l'interesse e la protezione della famiglia di Vitor. È più intelligente di quanto pensassi, questo glielo concedo. Ti suggerisco di essere discreto e di uccidere anche lui. Sembra affezionato e oltretutto fastidioso. Non dirò niente a suo padre. Sta prendendo una nuova moglie, quindi alla fine supererà la cosa./ Oh yes. She probably wanted to ensure the interest and the protection of Vitor's family. She is smarter than I thought, I give her that. I suggest you to be efficient and kill him too. He seems attached and besides that a nuisance. I will not say a thing to his daddy. He is taking a new wife so he will get over it eventually."

Eduardo frowns at Stefano. He was very rude in his characteristic way. 

"I am sorry, Eduardo. Stefano here is a bit direct, in the South European way. He apologizes for the behavior."

Stefano gives me a nasty frown. 

"Yes... Mr. Messina is a bit too confident and all that. He doesn't know that on this continent we have a short fuse too."

"Ok ok. Marco, mi farò perdonare. Io e Roxi cari abbiamo già chiacchierato ieri, giusto per ricordarle cosa succede se si scopa con la mafia siciliana./ Ok, ok. Marco, I will make it up to you. Me and Roxi deares already had a chat yesterday, just to remind her what happens if you fuck with the Sicilian mob."

"Te l'ho detto che è mia. Non toccarla più, cazzo./ I told you she is mine. Don't fucking touch her again," I hiss. 

"Rilassati fratello, non ho fatto niente. Lei è ancora intera come vedi e non sono io a scoparla. Nemmeno tu lo sei per la question. /Relax, bro, I did nothing. She is still whole, as you see, and I am not the one fucking her. Neither are you for the matter," he chips in mock-casually.

Then he walks away keeping eye contact for a while. I turn back to Eduardo and assure him of Grampa's support and that he sent his own team of lawyers to do consultancy so his father can be released tomorrow. 

Then I swipe my gaze over the masses but don't find her anymore. That's probably good. I cannot stomach another romantic kiss. This is affecting me way too much. This is not what I am supposed to feel.

I am supposed to be angry, hurt, betrayed. I feel all these but what is overpowering everything is that stupid sense of longing that I never stopped feeling. Marco, you are such an idiot. This girl shot you willingly; she aimed to kill, then ran away and let another guy fuck her pregnant in not even a year, yet what you want to do is pet her head and ask if she is okay? She wears designer clothes and a bright smile; stop projecting whatever you wish to see. 

"I will be right back," I tell Eduardo instead, and walk down the hallway to find a toilet or an empty room or a roof or someplace without people. 

In the crowd, catch a glimpse of Thiago, without her, talking to his father. Where..? Stop it. None of your business.

There is a hand on my shoulder and yet another shit-eating grin. Stefano signals me to follow him. Hm. Nobody wears a gun here and I am the one who is unarmed more dangerous from the two of us. 

He points at a door and I frown. 

"Andare avanti. Lei è tutta tua./ Go ahead. She is all yours."

Oh fuck. Not entering would look wrong, so I take a deep breath and open the door. 

After I enter, the door clicks shut and then locks. Stefano, you son of a bitch. 

This looks like a storage room, rather small and cramped so it's hard to miss her. She sits on the floor, shoes off, hugging her knees, with mascara and lipstick smeared over her face. 

"Please make it quick," she says, and her voice sounds as if she was crying for a time. She looks at the floor fixating on it, not at me. 

I look again. Blinking doesn't change the image. It's reality. 

"What are you waiting for? I think you can also make it painless but I suppose you don't want to, so at least be quick." She let out another sob. "I don't know why they call it liquid courage because I don't feel courageous at all right now. Maybe the effect wore off. Marco, come on, do it already." She raises her gaze finally and the whole scene looks like the apocalypse, painfully beautiful; her eyes red from crying make the green pop out more, and her lips are swollen and she is in pain and I can't help hurting too.  

"Do you mind?" I say, kneel down, and then sit beside her leaning on the same wall. 

She looks frightened. 

"I am not going to hurt you," I say with hands in sight. 

"Why not? Is it not why you are here? I am not kidding myself, I knew this was coming. I knew I deserved it, but I am still a bit of a pussy in the face of death."

"No, it's not why I am here."

"Don't you hate me?" She steals a short glance at me. 

"I am angry with you but I don't hate you. I understand why you did it."

"You do?" The question bears genuine astonishment.

"Yey. I am like all the other people that hurt you and your family. You couldn't possibly love me. I am just angry because I feel betrayed, but I guess that's on me again not on you."

"So you don't want to kill me?" she asks again very incredulous. 

"No, but don't tell Stefano," I say and give her a small smile. 

"This. This is not how I expected this conversation to go down at all. I am at a loss of words right now."

"Maybe communication was never easy between the two of us. Nothing was actually easy."

"That's not true," she says, looking into the room to not look at me, while fidgeting with a ring. "It was easy for me. And when it was difficult it was only because I made it difficult. I know this will sound like the biggest lie and hypocrisy in the world, and you can wipe whatever with my worthless words, but I am sorry I hurt you." 

"Apologies accepted." 

I look at her all this time because I can't look away. Now the corners of her lips shoot up and she laughs; her face and her whole body move with he giggles. 

"You are not in your right mind," she says, and turns to me. There are again tears in her eyes, some from sorrow some from the not quite healthy laughter. 

I shrug and smile. 

"Probably not, but who cares."

"So I can just go now? And you Grampa's men are not going to come after me and neither will you?"

"No. They are under my command and they won't. So no reason to be so nervous anymore; you can relax, P... Roxana. What are you doing there?" I say, looking at her hands.

"Nothing, uh. It's this stupid ring I cannot get off for weeks and now my finger has swollen and I think in a few days it will turn damn blue. Maybe I should cut it off." 

This is possibly the weirdest situation I have been in lately and this discussion didn't go down as I thought either. I didn't expect anything but I am certainly surprised.

Life is strange. I extend my hand to her and smile reassuringly. 

"Let me see." 

She hesitates and puts her palm into mine and this was a bad idea because I feel... things. We didn't have the time to hold hands properly. What a shame.

"Now relax and think about something else that is not... death," I say and start pressing on the reflex points in her palm. Eastern medicine comes in handy but I never thought I would use it here, like this, in this context. 

She closes her eyes and bites her lip. 

"All good. Does it hurt?"

"No," she whispers softly. "It's... The opposite of hurting."

"This ring is way too small. Who... Nevermind. None of my business, but you need one that fits, or none at all, you decide, but this is not it. This is painful, " I say, finally removing the ring and putting it into her palm. 

The look on her face is of pure surprise and relief, so very genuine, that it makes me think I am again too naive when it comes to her. 

I look down again and push the sleeve slightly up and frown unwillingly. There are bruises all around the wrist. Stefano, you son of a bitch, you couldn't help yourself. My fingers swipe over the purple skin and she looks away. 

Then there is a bang on the door. 

"Roxana, my love, are you there? I was looking everywhere for you." 

"Shit," she whispers. "Yes, the door is locked. I don't know what happened."

"Wait, I will get someone to unlock it."

"Oh gosh. He will think. Oh God, no." She looks rather... terrified? But then again if Hitomi would be banging on that door I would also think about how it looks. 

So I stand up and open the window. Yeah, that would do. 

"What...?" She looks at me questioning.

"Well, it would look bad if he finds me here, wouldn't it?"

"Marco, it's the sixth floor." 

"I am good at climbing," I say finally and get outside the window. 

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This is a very long chapter. Sorry, but it is what it is. :P 

No, they didn't jump each other's bones because life is complicated; but what do you think?